Sounding toy.



6. A. HEIMER.

SOUNDING TOY.

APPLICATION men OCT. 26, 1916.

1,234,472., Patented Ju'1y24, 1917.

Heimer NTTED %TATE PATENT @FFTQE.

GRANVILLE A. HEIMER, or PEN anevr, PENNSYLVANIA.

SOUNDING TOY.

Application filed October 26, 1916.

To all whom itmay concern:

Be it known that I, GRANVILLE A. HEIMER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pen Argyl, in the county of Northampton and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sounding Toys; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to the general class of toys, but more particularly to certain new and useful improvements in sounding toys.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a toy, which, when rolled over the floor or other surface, will be operated to produce a series of musical sounds.

Another object of the invention is to provide a toy of this character in which the musical sounds are produced by a plectrum which is caused to engage a series of strings, the method of mounting the plectrum being unlque.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of this character whiclrwill be simple, comparatively strong, and extremely inexpensive in construction, and one which will be eflicient and reliable in opera tion, and well adapted to the purpose for which it is designed.

With these and numerous other objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, and the com; bination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

The accompanying drawings illustrate the preferred form of the invention wherein Figure l is atop plan view of a device constructed in accordance with this invention;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the plane indicated by the line 22 of Fi 3;

Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the barrel, one of the wheel members being removed;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail sectional view through the stationary shaft, illustrating the manner in which the plectrum is mounted on the same;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken on the plane of the line 55 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a similar view taken through one end of the stationary shaft, showing the Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jnly 24, 1917.. Serial No. 127,862.

with the same.

' In the drawings, similar parts are designated by like reference characters throughout the several views, and in describing the invention, I shall refer to these parts by their respective indices.

Broadly stated, the invention comprises a rotating member carrying the strings, a relatively stationary member arranged adjacent the rotating member, and a plectrum mounted upon the stationary member and adapted to engage the strings of the rotating member upon rotation of the same.

The stationary member is composed of a horizontally arranged shaft 1, the opposite ends of which are formed into axle spindles 2. The shaft 1 is here shown and is preferably of square-shaped structure in cross section and slightly larger in diameter than the spindles 2. The ends of the shaft are provided with apertures to receive the flattened ends of a handle 3. This handle 3 is formed from a single length of comparatively heavy wire which is doubled upon itself at its central portion and twisted near its ends. The portions of the wire beyond its twisted portion are struck outwardly in opposite directions, and then laterally into parallel relation, and these parallel members are then bent inwardly and flattened as at 4 for the above-mentioned connection.

Revolubly mounted upon the axle spindles 2 of the shaft 1 are circular disks 01' wheel members 5 having openings 6 arranged centrally therein to afford this mounting, and also to permit the spindles to extend to the interior sides of the same. Arranged hori- Zontally between the wheel members 5 and secured at its ends to the latter in any convenient manner is a cylindrical barrel 7. Although this barrel is preferably cylindrical, yet it is to be understood that it may be of any convenient shape in cross section.

Mounted upon the interior of the barrel 7 and extending longitudinally of the same from end to end is a series of strings 8. Any convenient means may he used for securing the ends of these strings 8 to the barrel, although it is preferable that they be fastened by ordinary tacks 9. To space the strings a slight distance from the barrel so as not to come in contact with the same while in vibration, small staples v 9' are driven into the barrel adjacent the ends of the strings, their intermediate portions acting in the capacity of bridge members, as

will be readily understood. It is to be here noted that when the device is strung, the strings 8 are stretched so as to produce the desired musical note when caused to vibrate. They may be toned to the same note, or they may be toned to different notes. The latter is preferable.

The means for causing the strings 8 to vibrate consists of a yieldably mounted plectrum 10. This plectrum 10 is in the form of an ordinary round or substantially semi-spherical headed upholsterers tack 11, which is extended through the intermediate portion of an elastic strip of material 12, preferably of rubber. This strip 12 is secured at its ends to one of the flat sides of the shaft 1 by means of suitable fastening elements, and when so fastened, the stri has suflicient elasticity to return the tac: to its normal laterally extending position with respect to the side of the shaft to which it is fastened after it has been engaged by one of the strings 8. Close beneath the .head of the tack 11 is a strip 13 of some soft material, such as paper, felt, or the like to provide a damper for, the plectrum in order to prevent any squeaking sound which might be caused by the rubbing of the head of the tack directly upon the shaft.

In using a device constructed as above, the handle 3 is grasped and the toy is moved over the floor or other suitable surface. Owing to the fact that the ends of the handle are flattened and the openings 3 in the end of the, shaft 1 are shaped so as to snugly receive them, the shaft 1 will be retained in a substantially station ary. position, or at least, non-rotatable. As the device is pulled or pushed, the wheel members 5 will roll over the floor, and consequently rotate with respect to the shaft. The strings 8 will be thus caused to successively engage the tack 11, which is moved out of its normal laterally extending direction with respect to the shaft to pass around said strings, the head of said tack, in effect, having a rolling motion with respect to the flat side of the shaft with which it is maintained in contact by the elastic strip. As it disengages the strings, they will be caused to vibrate, thus producing the desired musical sound. The strip 12 which carries the tack 11 will be stretched and distorted out tion provides a simpleand eificient means for firmly securing the ends of the handle to the ends of the shaft, and in some instances will be found more convenient than the form shown in Figs. 1 to 7.

As various changes in form, proportion,

and in the minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing fro-m the spirit of this invention, I' do not wish to be limited to the construction herein shown and described, other than that claimed.

I claim 1. In a device of the class described, the combination with two relatively movable members, one of said members having a series of strings thereon, a strip of elastic material secured at its ends to the other member, and a plectrum fixed to the interme diate portion of said strip, said plectrum being disposed in the path of said strings and being adapted to yield upon engagement with the same.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination with two relatively movable members, one of said members having a series ofstrings mounted thereon, the other member having a flat side, of a flat strip of elastic material secured at its ends to the fiat side of the last mentioned member, and having an opening in its intermediate portion, and a plectrum extending through said opening and having a rounded head disposed between the flat side of said last mentioned member and the inner side of said strip, said plectrum being disposed in the path of said strings and being adapted to yield upon engagement with the same, the rounded head of-said plectrum having a rolling motion with respect to the flat side of said last mentioned member when such yielding takes place In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GRANVILLE A. I'IE-IMER.

Witnesses H. O. JoNns, W. A. SMITH.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the ECommissioner. of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

